Recently, a Santa Clara man faced the consequences of his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. Patrick Allen Bournes, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. Bournes, who had pleaded guilty on Feb. 9 to a felony count of civil disorder, will serve four months in prison followed by 24 months of supervised release, which includes a period of home detention. On top of this, he has been ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution. His plea and subsequent sentencing are the latest developments in the ongoing fallout from the events that unfolded over 41 months ago. This information comes from an official statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
On January 6, 2021, Bournes joined a mob clashing with law enforcement officers near the Lower West Terrace Tunnel at the U.S. Capitol. The site, key due to the construction of a stage for the presidential inauguration, saw some of the most severe confrontations of the day. A tumultuous crowd assailed police with projectiles, chemical irritants, and coordinated shoves, even going to the extent of looting police property. At around 3:03 p.m., Bournes breached the Tunnel, moving through the chaos to confront the law. He helped to push a police shield toward the rioters and stood his ground at the frontline, aiding those pushing against the officers. Despite the ebb of rioters, Bournes lingered, shouting "TRAITORS!" at the police, and aided in the creation of a "shield wall" to further their advances against the line, per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The FBI apprehended Bournes in San Jose, California, on January 29, 2023. His case was managed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, with the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section aiding the prosecution. The investigation, which has seen over 1,450 individuals charged nationwide, including more than 500 charged with felony offenses against law enforcement, is still ongoing. Sources state the FBI's San Francisco and Washington Field Offices led the investigation, with significant cooperation from the U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department.
As the case develops, the District Attorney's Office encourages anyone with information to come forward by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting tips.fbi.gov.
